# Worst lyric rhymes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 1, 2021, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876 "2021-09-01T04:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/181 "2023-05-19T12:11:48Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I know this is an old post but I couldn’t let it go. Strive diligently ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/182 "2023-05-19T12:17:28Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Firstly: lyrics by Gilbert, music by Sullivan. So the words are Gilbert’s fault. I‘ve heard it suggested that Gilbert was poking fun at himself in Princess Ida with the lines > These things I treat the same > I quite forget their name > They turn one’s legs > To cribbage pegs > Their aid I thus disclaim …because he couldn’t come up with a good rhyme for “greaves.” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/183 "2023-05-19T12:29:40Z")
Seasons in the Sun: _We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun but the stars we could reach were just starfish on the beach._ First rhyme- trite but not terrible. Second rhyme earns it a place on Satan’s playlist. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/184 "2023-05-19T12:37:54Z")
The story I’ve heard is that they wanted to do different material, but the record label insisted they do a follow-up to “Happy Together” that was in the same vein. So they purposely made “Eleanor” the sappiest piece of dreck they could write. Wiki confirms this: _Howard Kaylan later said:_ _\> Elenore was a parody of “Happy Together.” It was never intended to be a straight-forward song. It was meant as an anti-love letter to White Whale Records, who were constantly on our backs to bring them another “Happy Together.” So I gave them a very skewed version. Not only with the chords changed, but with all these bizarre words. It was my feeling that they would listen to how strange and stupid the song was and leave us alone. But they didn’t get the joke. They thought it sounded good. Truthfully, though, the production on “Elenore” WAS so damn good. Lyrically or not, the sound of the thing was so positive that it worked. It certainly surprised me._ ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/185 "2023-05-19T13:00:15Z")
Looks like these posts about “Elenore” have so far failed to mention that the rhyme they used for “et cetera” is “better.” Just trying to stay with the OP’s intent… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/186 "2023-05-19T14:40:57Z")
Pronounced “betta.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/187 "2023-05-19T14:44:14Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Looks like these posts about “Elenore” have so far failed to mention that the rhyme they used for “et cetera” is “better.” > > Just trying to stay with the OP’s intent… I don’t think that’s a bad rhyme at all. It doesn’t jump out; it’s not a perfect rhyme (which I prefer); and those two words are also separated by four lines of lyrics, so even if you think “et cetera” and “bettah” are for some reason qualitatively “bad,” you don’t notice it as they’re spaced out far enough. > [@silenus](#): > > [quoting Howard Kaylan]: > > Not only with the chords changed, but with all these bizarre words. It was my feeling that they would listen to how strange and stupid the song was and leave us alone. But they didn’t get the joke. They thought it sounded good. Truthfully, though, the production on “Elenore” WAS so damn good. Lyrically or not, the sound of the thing was so positive that it worked. It certainly surprised me. I just re-listened to it, and I have no idea why he would have thought this. First, what “bizarre words”? “Groovy”? “Swell”? That’s about as “bizarre” as it gets. He’s right – the production on that is wonderful, if not a little too stereo separated for modern tastes. But the song itself is solid pop songwriting; it’s got a great, singable hook; there’s nothing in the lyrics I see that I even find remotely all that weird. If that’s his best effort to piss off the record company, he really ain’t trying. I mean, see Lou Reed. And it’s pop music. Who the heck cares about the lyrics as long as you can sing and tap your toes to it? (Yes, there are some who care, but many more who don’t.) Now I have to go back for a Turtles deep dive. I’ve forgotten how good their singles were. Let’s see if the albums hold up. (Oh, I see there are mono mixes available, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/188 "2023-05-20T02:45:57Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Seasons in the Sun: > _We had joy we had fun > we had seasons in the sun > but the stars we could reach > were just starfish on the beach._ > > First rhyme- trite but not terrible. Second rhyme earns it a place on Satan’s playlist. How about something a bit more treaclier-than-thou, like: _Goodbye my friend, it’s hard to die_ _With all the birdies singing in the sky_ At least Greg Lake isn’t being the sightest bit pompous (or is he just being “deep”?) when going: _I’ve seen all the earth_ _Witnessed my birth_ _Cried at the sight of a man_ _And still I don’t know who I AM!_ ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/189 "2023-05-20T06:04:12Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > How about something a bit more treaclier-than-thou, like: > > _Goodbye my friend, it’s hard to die_ > _With all the birdies singing in the sky_ As someone who’s been singing along with Terry since ~~we were nine or ten~~ I was eleven, _When all the birds are singing in the sky_ ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/190 "2023-05-20T13:31:53Z")
There’s a song by Blessid Union of Souls called _Hey, Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me)_ that contains this little bit that bugs the shit out of me: _She likes me for me Not because I hang with Leonardo Or that guy who played in “Fargo” I think his name is Steve_ It’s not the rhyme that bothers me; it’s the “I hang with the guy from ‘Fargo’ but I’m not real sure what his name is, but I think it’s Steve.” It’s a stupid line. You hang out with the guy, but you’re not sure what his name is? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/191 "2023-05-20T13:58:28Z")
> [@the\_art\_of\_rolling](#): > > Also, has anyone ever said “window pane” other than to rhyme with “rain”? Jerry Jeff Walker fell prey: Picture of my face On the window pane Is it tears I see or is it rain? Little Bird ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/192 "2023-06-09T10:20:37Z")
Jimmy Buffett has to use the last rhyme for sailor at the end of this song: I’m just a son of a son, son of a son Son of a son of a sailor The sea’s in my veins, my tradition remains I’m just glad I don’t live in a trailer ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/193 "2023-06-09T11:58:52Z")
I always wonder how many of the people in his audience do live in a trailer. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/194 "2023-06-10T01:07:53Z")
Talk about lame or lazy lyrics. Has anyone ever rhymed the word _change_ with anything but _rearrange_? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/195 "2023-06-10T01:33:18Z")
Strange? Range? Mange? ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/196 "2023-06-10T01:35:50Z")
Who? What song? It sure would be a refreshing change. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/197 "2023-06-10T01:41:13Z")
post withdrawn ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/198 "2023-06-10T02:00:35Z")
There’s one that’s grated on me for sixty years… Back in the not-much-choice days of listening to the few radio stations we’d get in the car, I’d just shut the music off as soon as anyone rhymed **walk** and **talk**. _"We were walking,_ _And we were talking,_ _The way-ay-ayyy that lovers do-oo-ooh."_ (The Fortunes) _“Everybody’s talkin’ ‘bout a new way of walkin’…”_ (Lots of bands, from Jan & Dean to Dr. Hook) _"Fast-talking, slow-walking…_ _good-looking Mohair Sam"_ (Charlie Rich) I’ll admit I sometimes even turned off great songs like… _"I like the way you walk,_ _I like the way you talk,_ _Susie-Q!"_ (Creedence) _“Walk like a man, talk like a man…”_ (Frankie Valli) _"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk,_ _I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk…"_ (Bee Gees) _“Wellll, I’ve been out walking…_ _I don’t do much talking…_ _These Days.”_ (Gregg Allman arrangement of Jackson Browne’s lazy rhyme) _"We better get walkin’,_ _We’re wastin’ time talkin’…"_ (Todd Rundgren) _"Never was one to talk_ _Said it with a rebel walk."_ (Ian McLagen) _“Walk that walk, talk that talk.”_ (John Lee Hooker) . John Lennon on Elvis’s _“Devil in Disguise”:_ > I don’t like this and I hate songs with ‘walk’ and ‘talk’ in it - you know, those lyrics. ‘She walks, she talks.’ I don’t like that… It’s awful. Poor ol’ Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/199 "2023-06-10T07:37:21Z")
Don’t forget Fats Domino: _I’m walkin’, yes indeed_ _And I’m talkin’ about you and me_ _I’m hopin’ that you’ll come back to me, yeah_ ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876/200 "2023-06-10T12:25:36Z")
Welp, there’s my earworm for the day, sparked by _rearrange_. _The time to rise has been engaged_ _You’re better best to rearrange_ _I’m talkin’ here to me alone_ _I listen to the finest worksong_ My lyrics pet peeve is ‘fire’ and ‘desire.’ Giving you the sideeye, Bruce. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-lyric-rhymes/949876.md?page=11)